Well this weekend, I decided to try using 3M swirl remover on my black car, and then finish it off with Z1 and Z5.

I first clayed the entire car, and got rid off all of the tar, bugs. I then washed the car with Dawn to remove any old wax. I dried the car and then tried to use an orbital buffer with the 3M swirl remover.

At first I nearly $hit my pants I used and applicator pad on the buffer and safe to say the 3M swirl remover did not like the pad at all.. I started in a 2X2 area and started running the buffer with 3M on the paint.. Well I stopped when it started hazing, and tried to towel out the swirl remover. It would not come off at all. I thought I ruined the paint! It would not even buff off.. EEK.

So I washed the hood with Dawn again and it took off the swirl remover..

I realized my mistake and put a polishing pad on the buffer and tried it again.. This time it worked well. Lesson learned..

Now I notice that the swirl remover did remove the ligt scratches, but also took away the shine on the hood..I am thinking this is normal right?

Now with the Zaino application... I used Z-1 and started on the hood. I then applied Z-5.. This is the tough part. I know you should not apply it on thick, but at the same time, I cannot tell if I covered the area properly.. This wax is a PITA to use...I let it dry for an hour ( 80 degree day in the shade) and I saw a slight haze, but once again I could not tell how well it covered due to it not showing up well.. I hand buffed off the Zaino, and it shined ok, nothing great. I have definately used other stuff that worked better. I went back with a 2nd coat and it started to bring out a good shine.. The swirl marks were definately less. It shines ok.

I guess I need to apply some Z-2 on top of the Z-5.. To make it shine better.. It has a nice wet look , but it is not bringing out the dark black liek other waxes I have used..

Any tips on what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks
Kevin

 

Questions:

1. Did you wash the car with Dawn after using the 3M? cause your supposed to.

2. Did you use a Foam pad on the orbital because the 3M Swirl remover is only supposed to be used with a foam pad, the paint should not be that dull after using the 3M as it is a paint polish.

3. You should use about 3/4 of an ounce of Z-1 to cover the car with, you should put Z-1 on so thin that you can not see it, if you work in a garage or in the shade you should have no trouble seeing the paint area you have covered.

4. Z-5 should be put on on the first application between 1/2 to 3/4 of an ounce over Z-1, Z-1 does not dry, it is a chemical activator when it makes contact with the Z-5. Z-5 is a little harder to buff off than Z-2 Pro. Try Z-2 Pro next and it will come off much easier.

5. With the 3M, when you work it into the paint with a foam pad and the orbital, it starts out on the paint as a paste and you can clearly tell when you are done using the machine as the product will break down into an oil and this is when the gloss in the paint starts to come up, at that point you want to remove the 3M immediately with a towel as you never let a paint compound dry on the surface.

 

kevin, wouldn't dawn just strip off what you did with the 3M, negating the effect?

 

thanks for the reply Kevin.
I think the reason why the hood dulled on me was due to the wrong pad i used which was an applicator pad. i switched to a polishing pad and it worked better. Unfortuantly I left for the beach before I read your last e-mail about the foam pad.

Looks like I need some Z2 huh? The problem I had was I could not easily see the application of the Z-1 and the Z5 was difficult to see also... My friend has used this stuff on his Z-06 snd told me to keep it very thin on the coat. Problem is when I did apply it on thin, I really would not tell if I had full coverage..

It seems like I just need to keep trying at it.

quick question..when using the 3m and foam pad, how much product should i start with when say doing half of thehood? And should I let the orbital buffer glide freely until the product hazes?? Then buff with a towel off? I am sure using the wrong pad screwed me the first time.

please PM me a price on that Z-2 when you get a chance

Thanks for the help

Kevin

 

Use ZFX and forget about the Z1.

 

3M Swirl Mark remover part number 39009 contains tons of oils that will not let the Zaino adhere to the finish, the benefit to the paint that you are interested in performing with 39009 is the mild abrasives in it negating the swirl and scratch effect on the paint, you should not be trying to just hide these imperfections, you should be trying to remove them.

3M has come out with a new swirl remover which is part number 39012 which has way less oils than 39009.

Zaino has a new product coming out in the next few weeks which will be a Swirl Remover and Paint Cleanser best used with a foam pad and an orbital buffer that will have a compatiable base with Z-2 or Z-5, so you can use the new Zaino swirl remover and then go straight to the Z-2 or Z-5 and not have to wash with Dawn or anything after using the new Zaino product.

 

"I think the reason why the hood dulled on me was due to the wrong pad i used which was an applicator pad. i switched to a polishing pad and it worked better. Unfortuantly I left for the beach before I read your last e-mail about the foam pad."

You have to use a foam pad with the 3M Swirl remover, I think it says on the bottle "Foam Pad Polish"

"quick question..when using the 3m and foam pad, how much product should i start with when say doing half of thehood?"

No way for me to be able to measure, just put a ling of 3M on the paint about every 12 inches apart.

"And should I let the orbital buffer glide freely until the product hazes??"

Not really, you need to apply some pressure to the buffer against the paint, you can not just let it glide freely.

"Then buff with a towel off? I am sure using the wrong pad screwed me the first time."

Wrong pad will really screw up the 3M, when the 3M breaks down into an oil is very easy to see when moving the buffer around on the finish, then remove the 3M immediately with a cotton towel.

"please PM me a price on that Z-2 when you get a chance"

Z-2 is 14.95

 

I'm interested in trying some zaino, which products do i need? I notice they have a kit that contains a bunch of stuff... Does that contain about everything I need?

 

the first kit (the 85$ one) will contain everything you need
for a few extra products, you can get the higher price one
i do reccommend the z9 and z10 if you have leather, it works quite well
i can't comment on the tire gloss though, i haven't tried it

 

yea I have leather, although its a little rough looking where the metal on my jeans hits it everytime i get in the car.. just that one spot though.
Did you use the 3m swirl stuff on your car as well? I have plenty of those that I usually just cover up the best i can.

Sorry to hijack the thread, but looked like a good place to ask about the two products

 

no, i plan on using the 3m stuff in the next 3 weeks, whenever i get to it so i'll letcha know
and yea, i definately reccommend that zaino for the leather, it gets it nice and clean and smells great

 

Update:

Well I reapplied Z-5 on the Lex today and waited for 5 hours this time to let dry. I also was very careful with applying a thin layer of wax.


To be honest I did not get great results with the 3M , even with the foam pad.. It did remove swirling, but left the paint a little duller. It seems the Z-5 fills them in well anyway and I left it at that.

Well I finally got the Zaino shine everyone talks about here. This wax is a little tough to aply evenly and to remove completely, but in th eend I must say it is worth it.. I was told Z-2 will be even better for the shine. I am going to borrow a friends this week and if I get even better results, I will have to buy some. IT is really shining now!!! Very pleased with the results.

Anyway thanks everyone for the help
Kevin

 

Post some pics .. or at least post some final pics

 

Z-2 is easier to apply and remove than Z-5 is, I think it is the fillers in the Z-5 that make it a little more difficult to remove (although it is not very tough as olden days hard paste wax)

 

I really don't understand the point of recommending 3M SMR + Dawn, as opposed to another polish that really polishes the paint.

3M SMR uses oils and fillers. Dawn removes them. What's the point?